South Pole, Antarctica, United States [SPO]
Atmospheric Transport |
Description
The South Pole Observatory (SPO) is one of four atmospheric baseline observatories for NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL). The South Pole Observatory was established at the geographical south pole at 2837 m above sea level in 1957 as part of the International Geophysical Year. The National Science Foundation provides the infrastructure for the NOAA/ESRL/GMD scientific operations including a state of the art science building named the Atmospheric Research Observatory opened in 1996. Two ESRL observatory staff spend one year tours of duty at the station which includes a 9 month period of isolation and six months of darkness. The Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO) was built by NSF in 1997 to house current atmospheric research and replaced NOAA's Clean Air Facility in operation from 1977 to 1997. Atmospheric data has been collected from South Pole since the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957 - 1958.
GMD Projects at South Pole, Antarctica
Carbon Cycle Surface Flasks
Parameter | Formula | First Sample Date | Most Recent Sample Date |
---|---|---|---|
Carbon Dioxide | CO2 | 1975-02-09 | 2008-01-24 |
Methane | CH4 | 1983-02-20 | 2008-01-24 |
Carbon Monoxide | CO | 1993-04-01 | 2008-01-24 |
Molecular Hydrogen | H2 | 1993-04-01 | 2008-01-24 |
Nitrous Oxide | N2O | 1997-01-16 | 2008-01-24 |
Sulfur Hexafluoride | SF6 | 1997-01-16 | 2008-01-24 |
Carbon-13/Carbon-12 in Carbon Dioxide | d13C (CO2) | 1993-03-28 | 2008-01-15 |
Oxygen-18/Oxygen-16 in Carbon Dioxide | d18O (CO2) | 1993-03-28 | 2008-01-24 |
Carbon-13/Carbon-12 in Methane | d13C (CH4) | 1998-01-01 | 2008-01-24 |
methyl chloride | CH3Cl | 2005-01-28 | 2007-12-08 |
Benzene | C6H6 | 2006-12-01 | 2007-12-08 |
toluene | C7H8 | 2006-12-01 | 2007-12-08 |
D/H in Methane | dD (CH4) | 2005-02-11 | 2008-01-24 |
ethane | C2H6 | 2005-02-11 | 2007-12-08 |
ethene | C2H4 | 2005-01-28 | 2007-12-08 |
propane | C3H8 | 2005-01-28 | 2007-12-08 |
propene | C3H6 | 2005-01-28 | 2007-12-08 |
i-butane | i-C4H10 | 2005-04-01 | 2007-08-15 |
n-butane | n-C4H10 | 2005-02-15 | 2007-12-08 |
i-pentane | i-C5H12 | 2005-03-04 | 2007-11-26 |
n-pentane | n-C5H12 | 2005-01-28 | 2007-12-08 |
n-hexane | n-C6H14 | 2005-01-28 | 2007-11-26 |
wind speed | 1992-01-16 | 2008-11-01 | |
wind direction | 1992-01-16 | 2008-11-01 | |
isoprene | C5H8 | 2006-11-22 | 2007-12-08 |
Carbon Cycle In Situ Observatory
Parameter | Formula | First Sample Date | Most Recent Sample Date |
---|---|---|---|
Carbon Dioxide | CO2 | 1975-11-25 | 2008-12-09 |
HATS Flask Sampling
HATS In Situ Observatory
Aerosol Surface, Continuous Measurements
Continuous Radiation Measurements
Parameter | Formula | First Sample Date | Most Recent Sample Date |
---|---|---|---|
Direct Beam | 1978-01-01 | Ongoing | |
Shortwave Global | 1977-01-01 | Ongoing | |
Diffuse | 1995-10-31 | Ongoing | |
Reflected Shortwave | 1985-01-01 | Ongoing | |
Downward Longwave | 1985-01-01 | Ongoing | |
Upward Longwave | 1985-01-01 | Ongoing |
Surface Ozone
Dobson Ozone
Parameter | Formula | First Sample Date | Most Recent Sample Date |
---|---|---|---|
Total Ozone | Total Ozone | 1963-12-04 | 2005-12-30 |
Ozonesonde
Trajectories
Lidar
Meteorology
Parameter | Formula | First Sample Date | Most Recent Sample Date |
---|---|---|---|
wind speed 2 meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Wind Direction 2 Meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Wind Speed 10 Meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Wind Direction 10 Meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Wind Speed Top | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Wind Direction Top | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Barometric Pressure | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Relative Humidity 2 Meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Temperature 2 Meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Temperature 10 Meters | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
temperature Top | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 | |
Precipitation | 2008-01-01 | 2008-08-18 |